First Responder Sunday

I don’t know how many of us have been in a situation where you’re looking for an adult and realize you are the adult. We all get ourselves into situations where we don’t know what to do and secretly we are hoping that someone will show up that has a clue.

Most of the time, in chaotic situations, it is the first responders who have to bring the calm in the chaos.

I’m reminded of Jesus in the boat when everything as going wrong.

Matthew 8:23–27 ESV

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

This scene often reminds me of why first responders are so important. Most of them at home sleeping, or in their squad car doom scrolling. Someone breaks into our house, a fire starts, our loved one has a heart attack and in a moments notice we are in the middle of the storm. The first thing we do-call 911 and they wake up, they put down their phones, the stop playing with their kids, or they leave a family event in a mad dash for the door.

My uncle used to be a fire chief of Fire station #4 in West Mifflin—the station now named after him. I remember thanksgivings, Christmases, and parties where a group of men and women after hearing the alarm go off on their waist unit kiss their wive’s and running off to be the calm in the middle of someone’s storm.

On the flip side, even though they lay their lives down I’ve seen them get taunted, stuff thrown at them, scoffed at and even fearful of retaliation and how their families are going to cope and I want to take this time to remind everyone of the words Paul penned.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 ESV

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Why did Paul pen this verse? In those times there was great persecution. Leaders were young and inexperienced and the church was new. The main reason Paul was writting this piece historically

To teach healthy community practices, especially regarding leadership, relationship, and Jesus.

Why are we called to respect them.

Not because they earned it

Paul was trying to get a chaotic people who were struggling to find order into a place unity. And Unity starts with our leadership. We can’t have a unified community if we are battling those who were put over us. As I stated before most of the leaders in the new church were young and those who weren’t young were still new at leading churches. Danger put the people in a constant state of chaos.

Respect-eidō - to recognize.

To know who they are, see them, and acknowledge the duty they carry out, the call on their lives, and our biblical mandate to make their job easier.

Many here may point out that the verse says in the Lord, but we need to recognize that according

Romans 13:1 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

All authority comes from God. And I love the word all here because in the greek it literally means—all. The good authority. Those we like and desire to follow and those we don’t like or even agree with. AS long as they aren’t forcing us to go against the word of God- God says we are to follow them and respect them.

Esteem them highly in Love

Esteem means to value, treasure, and consider worthy—not because of their personality, their popularity, or because they are doing what we want, but rather

Because of their work

This is the promise of honoring these men and women

Peace among yourselves.

When choas reigns peace is never found, but where their is unity peace is prevailing.

We aren’t meant to be perfect, but we are meant to be supportive.

And ultimately we are here to honor those who run toward danger when everyone else is running away. They are the perfect example of Jesus. When Peter fled, and the apostles scattered, Jesus responded. his crisis was a crisis of sin.

The word says

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

On the cross he bore the burden that not even our first responders could carry. The weight of every sin, every failure, and every broken spirit.

Through his example we have those who are sent here to protect us, to lead us, and ensure our safety.

First I want open: If there is anyone here who is carrying the burden of sin and you haven’t been to the foot of the cross. You don’t know Jesus Christ as Lord and savior I want to make time available to show you are ultimate savior.

If you're in a personal crisis today—emotional, spiritual, or physical—Jesus is still responding. The cross was His siren, and the empty tomb was His victory. He came for you. Will you respond to Him today?

Invite the responders up front: Pray peace, strength, protection over them and their families.

For the church—We need to commit ourselves to be not only peacemakers—making their job as easy as possible, but also honor-carriers. Letting them know more than one time a year that we appreciate all of them. I was read an article from a police officer who was tired of being yelled at and treated badly for pulling people over. In the letter he said one of the hardest times he could remember as a police officer was when he was called to a vehicle crash of someone who texting while driving. It was a mother and a few kids if I remember correctly. The mother was ejected from the vehicle and the children had passed. Later that night he pulled someone over for speeding. they were rude and beligerant when they received the ticket. No I’m like you—When I see the lights I pray for leniecy, but our attitude shouldn’t change based on the outcome.

At the end of the article he wrote—I gave them a ticket so that hopefully they aren’t the DOA he gets called to next. You will never know the trajedy they see. The demons they fight. Or the thigns they do, but in every situaiton we need to be respectful and polite—even when it costs us someting.